Tuesday 12th July - Day 1 Toliet - Jireh Orphanage

Today was our first fop to our growing fatigue. We have been busy for the last week or so so we decided today to split into a morning and afternoon team. The morning team were practically working on the construction of 4 latrine pits for the shower block. The afternoon team were finishing up what needed to be done as well as running a fun session for the children of the orphanage. The Jireh (God provides) orphanage caters for around 55 young children if you see the pictures you can get an idea of the age range. Orphanage doesn't always mean that they have no parents, it can mean that they live so remotely that sending their children to these types places is the only way to get them educated. The facts are though that there are still a large number of kids with precious little facilities. Our job was to create new toilets and showers for them. I'll hand over to Jake to let you know how they got on it the morning, since I was having a well deserved lie in (being on the afternoon team).

Hello
It's me again I would ask you how you are but after the distinct lack of replies I've decided not to this time (please comment!)so whilst I was working hard and my father was lazing at home we managed to clear out there area by getting rid of the weeds, slightly level it and dig out the and put the concrete rings in the holes for sewage. This work took about 4 hours in the 35 degrees c so we were all quite pleased with our efforts. But it was really good to be there. Two of the orphan children where there as we were working and just seeing them and truly realising the difference we were making because of how little they had. I felt this really pushed me onwards to keep working. OK I'll had back to Dad to explain why they did so little in the afternoon.

When we arrived we were very impressed with the amount they had done in the morning. the holes were 1.2m deep and 90cm wide each reinforced with 3 concrete precast rings, oh and a lid. Simon estimates that they will last about a couple of years(with composting and the liquids leeching into the porous soil). The rest of the day we levelled out the ground, but it was slow work as we took a long while to set out the position of the posts. But by the end of the day we had dug the post holes out and were all ready for the building phase which starts tomorrow.

I think the thing about this project as opposed to the others we have completed so far is that it really shows the difference between what we have and what these people have. The total cost of this project is about £700 in materials (obviously all our help and other labour is free). Back home in my job that is about 1.3m of new water main laid or a days work for one of our consultants. Here that provides additional facilities which helps greatly. Yet still after we leave there will be 20-25 girls sleeping every nights on mats on a concrete floor with only blue plastic netting for walls stopping the water blowing in when rains.

Advice I was given before coming out here was to approach it with an open mind and not to try and save the world. I think that is sound advice, however I'm sure there must be something that can be done to make these people's lives better. Jill and Simon are looking to sponsor individual kids at Jireh, the cost is just £20 a month. If you are reading this blog and that seems like something you'd like to do you can mail them (sandjbird@gmail.com) and I'm sure they'll help you help. If not then thats fine, please don't feel obliged.

Ok after all the work for the day was done we spent some time with the young people. We had brought balloons and our borrowed parachute and played parachute games for a little while. We then took them through our Jonah sketch and completed some craft. What surprised us all was just how good the Thai's are at drawing. We first noticed this at our school visit, but we were truly humbled by the quality of drawing today. I like drawing. I have no talent for it but find it fun. These kids are really good at it. I guess it must be the combination of drawn letters in the alphabet but something provides these young people with better than average talent for drawing that's for sure.

At the end of the session we got out the knitted toys provided by the Park church knitting group. These gifts were a storming success and were received in the spirit they were given. Check out the photos on the blog and the videos also to see there gratitude. Well done to all the people who put in so much time and effort into making them.

Ok it's nearly midnight here and time to turn in. Thanks to everyone who is reading this blog and for your thoughts and prayers. Blessings back to you all.

Pete